Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-08-13

home they sunk shaft into the mountain
to find the Abalck diamonds
Among them was a rough and il-look-
ing young man Of about twenty-one years
of age, and he was noted as being one of
the most desperate and wicked men among
the gang. The moment he saw the lovely
daughter of Mr.. Brennan he began to
pay her marked attention, and afterwards
was a frequent visitor at the saw-milL
Beautiful Edith Brennan soon perceived
the real object of his coming, ana could
not but form a detestation against his pre-
sumptuous visits. Although she showed
him plainly that his visits were OdiOus to
her, yet he persistenuy forced them upon
her, and one evening asked her to be his
wife; and on receiving decided negative
showed "a little principle by leaving the
cabin quietly.
For long time nothing was seen Of him,
and Edith Brennan began to hope that he
would not trouble her any more; but she
was disappointed in this, for on a dark
stormy night, a heavy tread was heard out
side, and the next moment Ben Warner
walked into the cabin. The first glance
showed that he was slightly intoxicated,
and as he walked into the room where the
family was, he fiourished a revolver, and
said in a threatening voice to Mr.. Brennan:
"A few months ago I asked your daughter
to be my wife and she refused, this even
ing I come again for the same purpose,
and want you to compel her to say yes,
or by thunder Will clean out the whole
cabin" With those works he cooked his
revolver and said, @And III only give you a
few moments to decide"
For a few minutes the room was silent as
death and the stiffness was broken by
Edith saying, ayes, I will be your wife,
Ben Warner" On hearing this the rufian
was surprised and looked at Edith, but his
surprise was short, for the next moment
he was struck down by a tremendous blow
from Mr.. Brennan. The next moment
there was loud report and deadly bullet
sped harmIessly into the wall. His re-
volver was then taken from him and he
was pitched out doors. ami the door was
locked.
The curses which he heaped upon Mr..
Brennan were heard inside, and after be-
ing engaged in that occupation for a while,
he went to the door and Kissed through the
keyhole, John Brennan, YOU shall suffer
for your work tonight, and that idolized
daughter of yours shall find a watery
grave" After which all was silent save
the roar of the wind and patter of rain
drops upon the roof
They were not disturbed any more dur
ing the night, and after inquiring about
him the next day found that he had gone
away, no one knew where. They were
pleased to hear this, and after q short time
forgot that such person existed.
So, one bright morning in May Mr..
Brennan and his son Edward left the
others at home and went to the nearest
village TO attend to some business. IttOOk
them longer than was expected, and it was
rather late when they started for home.
The day was fearfully hot, and the low,
rumbling sounds that were heard heralded
the coming of a thunder storm: and by the
time they came in sight of their home the
sky was shrouded with frowning clouds,
and looked appalling as the dark mass
came ne rer, and was occasionally illumin-
ated by vivid streaks of lightning.
AS they came within q few rods from the
cabin, they noticed that the door was open,
but saw no one, nor did any familiar sound
fall upon their ears and their hearts beat
faster as they came nearer, and they
paused when they came to the door, as If
TO hear some familiar sounds, or wait for
Edith to welcome them in.
But they waited in vain; no sounds were
heard. no words spoken, no Edith ap-
peared-alI was silent save the echoing
Peals that shook the earth.
For a moment they looked at each other
and then walked ini the silence was soon
broken by the son pointing to pools Of
blood. and saying in a voice Of agony,
"Fatherl Oh father! look there!"
As Mr.. Brennan saw the pools of blood
he turned pale, his lips quivered, and he
took hold of a chair to support himself
and uttered in a broken voice Of anguish
MY Godl Where are they2"
Without saying any more to each othel
they looked in each room for the missing
ones, but the only answer they got was {
dirge from a frog, whose notes pierced thei
hearts. Remembering the rufian's threa
/ concerning q watery grave, they went Il
| explore the dark waters of the dam, anC
| the scene before them was enough t
/ drive them distracted
For in the waters embrace lay two ia.
miliar forms with the silence OF death i'm.
| printed upon their brows, and from thei
sides the blood was oozing out, contaminat,
/ ing the transparency of the water. A.
/ Mr.. Brennan stood on the bank of the dan
/ and gazed on that horrifying spectacle 70
/ a moment he raised his hands imploringi,
! toward heaven. and. uttering a few maud
bic words. fell forward and sank in
! the dark waters Of the dam-dead.
The storm now began to fail upon that
! sorrowful place, and as the rain began to
fall, Edward Brennan, though longing foI
death, plunged into the dam and rescued
father, mother, and sister, although dead,
from the water. and carried them into the
| cabin.
He then closed the door, and for the first
time noticed a dagger lying under a chair,
and looking at it he saw the name Of Ben
! Warner engraved on the handle. Casting
it down he went and kDeeled between his
dead father and mother, and with one hand
heaven and prayed that his father, mother.
and sister might be avenged.
| At this moment terrific report echoed
along the sky, as If to show that his prayer
was answered; and with a lighter heart he
laid down to sleep, and the roar Of the
wind and patter of rain drops soon lulled
his weary form to rest, to sleep with the
dead.
! His slumbers were not broken until the
/ rays Of a morning sun beamed against the
/ windows, and on looking around he saw
the three dead bodies. He thought at mrs
that it was dream, but the events Of tina
dreadful evening dawned upon him, ant
convinced him of their reality. @And they